Sources say that The Shoe Company will open a Canadian chain of large-sized discount shoe stores, similar to America's DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse. Lease negotiations are already underway for its first store location in suburban Toronto. The new retailer will have a new name of which we're not yet aware.

We've been told that this retailer could be compared to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse. For those unaware, DSW is an immensely popular American shoe retailer with almost 380 store locations. It sells designer shoes at discounted prices. Stores average at around 22,000 square feet and each carries about 24,000 pairs of shoes. The new Canadian footwear retailer will face competition once Nordstrom Rack and Off 5th by Saks Fifth Avenue open their Canadian discount stores. If the Canadian footwear store is the same size as DSW, though, it will likely have a wider selection and more shoes than its competition. DSW stores are, in fact, almost as large as Nordstrom Rack and Off 5th stores, both of which carry not just shoes but also apparel and accessories. DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, itself, could still open stores in Canada. Another source tells us that the company is currently examining a Canadian retail strategy. One of our sources for this article is bAuHaUs of Urban Toronto.

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